The Bahamas - February 18, 2025 SpaceX achieved a major milestone during its February 18 Starlink internet satellite launch, landing a Falcon 9 rocket off the coast of The Bahamas for the first time. Lifting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the Falcon 9 rocket carried 23 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Just eight minutes after liftoff, the rocket's first stage made a successful descent, landing on the droneship Just Read the Instructions stationed in the Atlantic Ocean near The Bahamas. This groundbreaking landing is the result of a newly established partnership between SpaceX and The Bahamas, opening up new opportunities for the company's orbital missions. Deputy Prime Minister Isaac Chester Cooper celebrated the event, calling it a “huge” step for the nation, which now joins the cutting edge of space innovation. Today's flight marked the 16th mission for this particular Falcon 9 booster, nine of which have been dedicated Starlink launches. SpaceX continues to make strides in its reusable rocket technology, with 2025 already seeing 21 Falcon 9 missions.